U.S. patent application number 11/611478 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for attachment part.
This patent application is currently assigned to Feller GmbH. Invention is credited to Dietmar Brandstatter, Walter Hammer, Andreas Renner.
Application Number | 20070141886 11/611478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38109078 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070141886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hammer; Walter ; et
al. |
June 21, 2007 |
Attachment part
Abstract
In an attachment part (13) for an electrical plug-in connection,
wherein a frame member (16) is provided having inside surfaces (17)
which are formed to essentially match the outside contour of a
first electrical connecting element (3), and wherein the frame
member (16) can be attached to a second electrical connecting
element (6) and forms with its inside surfaces (17) a through
opening (18) in the connection direction of the electrical
connecting elements (3, 6), and wherein the first electrical
connecting element (3) can be guided so as to be freely movable, it
is proposed for reducing manufacturing and material costs and for
improving compatibility with existing plugs that a safety wire clip
(90) is movably connected with the frame member (16), and that the
safety wire clip (90) is formed so as to secure a first electrical
connecting element (3) connected with the second electrical
connecting element (6) so that it cannot be pulled out.
Inventors: |
Hammer; Walter; (Sollenau,
AT) ; Brandstatter; Dietmar; (Markt Piesting, AT)
; Renner; Andreas; (Neunkirchen, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HENRY M FEIEREISEN, LLC
350 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 4714
NEW YORK
NY
10118
US
|
Assignee: |
Feller GmbH
Gunselsdorf
AT
|
Family ID: |
38109078 |
Appl. No.: |
11/611478 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/266 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/745 20130101;
H01R 13/748 20130101; H01R 13/6392 20130101; H01R 13/6395
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/266 |
International
Class: |
H01R 11/22 20060101
H01R011/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 2005 |
AT |
A 2034/2005 |
Dec 15, 2006 |
AT |
A 2072/2006 |
Claims
1. An attachment part for securing a first electrical connecting
element to a second electrical connecting element, comprising: a
frame member adapted to be attached to the second electrical
connecting element and having a through-opening with inside
surfaces formed to essentially match an outside contour of the
first electrical connecting element and allowing insertion of the
first electrical connecting element through the through-opening for
connection with the second electrical connecting element, and a
safety wire clip movably connected with the frame member and formed
so as to engage the first electrical connecting element and prevent
the first electrical connecting element from being pulled out when
connected with the second electrical connecting element.
2. The attachment part according to claim 1, wherein the safety
wire clip has a first unblocking position enabling insertion of the
first electrical connecting element through the through-opening,
and second blocking position in which the first electrical
connecting element connected with the second electrical connecting
element is prevented from being pulled out.
3. The attachment part according to claim 1, wherein the safety
wire clip is shaped so as to engage behind the first electrical
connecting element while connected with the second electrical
connecting element.
4. The attachment part according to claim 1, further comprising at
least two supports rotatably supporting the safety wire clip on the
attachment part.
5. The attachment part according to claim 1, wherein the safety
wire clip has an engagement portion essentially in the shape of a
U-shaped clip.
6. The attachment part according to claim 5, wherein the U-shaped
engagement portion includes a bridge and legs forming a
substantially U-shaped recess, wherein the legs of the recess are
arranged at least in certain regions substantially perpendicular to
the bridge and to two substantially parallel legs of the safety
wire clip that are disposed between the recess and the attachment
part.
7. The attachment part according to claim 6, wherein the two
substantially parallel legs of the U-shaped clip are in a blocking
position of the safety wire clip aligned substantially parallel to
a connection direction of the first and the second electrical
connecting elements.
8. The attachment part according to claim 1, and further comprising
a sealing element arranged on or adjacent to the inside surfaces of
the frame member.
9. The attachment part according to claim 1, wherein the frame
member is implemented as a closed ring.
10. The attachment part according to claim 1, wherein the
attachment part includes at least one attachment means for securing
the attachment part on the second electrical connecting
element.
11. The attachment part according to claim 10, wherein the
attachment means comprise a projection or a flange, by which the
attachment part can be secured on the second electrical connecting
element.
12. The attachment part according to claim 1, wherein the second
electrical connecting element comprises an attachment means, and
wherein the attachment part is formed to as to extend over the
attachment means of the second electrical connecting element.
13. The attachment part according to claim 1, wherein the first
electrical connecting element (3) is selected from the group of
electrical plug-in systems consisting of appliance plugs or
appliance receptacles, appliance plugs or appliance receptacles in
compliance with IEC 60320 appliance plugs or appliance receptacles
in compliance with IEC 60320-1, plugs and receptacles for cold
appliances, plugs and receptacles for warm appliances, shockproof
plugs and shockproof receptacles with or without ground wire, plugs
and receptacles for hot appliances according to the 60320 standard,
and power extension cord plugs and receptacles according to IEC
60320-2.2.
14. The attachment part according to claim 11, wherein the
projection or a flange has at least one opening, by which the
attachment part can be screwed on the second electrical connecting
element.
15. The attachment part according to claim 12, wherein the
attachment means of the second electrical connecting element
comprise at least one of a catch, a detent, and a collar.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an attachment part for an
electrical plug-in connection, wherein a frame member with inside
surfaces which are formed to essentially match the outside contour
of a first electrical connecting element is provided, and wherein
the frame member can be attached to a second electrical connecting
element and forms with its inside surfaces a through opening in the
connection direction of the electrical connecting elements, and
wherein the first electrical connecting element can be guided so as
to be freely movable.
[0002] Attachment parts for electrical plug-in connections are
disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,664 which have a
movable attachment made of plastic which can be used to secure a
plug with an attached cable in a receptacle by pivoting the
attachment over the plug and securing the attachment part piece on
the cable. This type of attachment part disadvantageously has high
manufacturing costs per unit, in particular for small batches, due
to the material cost and in particular the cost for producing
injection molding tools, as well as a limited compatibility with
different plugs and more particularly with different cables. The
plugs, but more particularly the cables from different
manufacturers have rarely identical dimensions. An attachment part
according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,664 designed for conventional
cables is thus not applicable with thick, in particular shielded,
cables typically used, for example, to supply power to electronic
signal processing systems susceptible to interference, such as
measurement amplifiers, radar systems, low temperature physics
apparatuses or high-end stereo systems.
[0003] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an
attachment part for an electrical plug-in connection of the
aforedescribed type which obviates the aforementioned
disadvantages, which has low manufacturing and material costs, in
particular in small batches, and which can reliably secure a
majority of different plugs with cables of different thickness so
that it cannot be pulled out.
[0004] This is achieved in accordance with the invention by movably
connecting a safety wire clip with the frame member, and
configuring the safety wire clip such that a first electrical
connecting element connected with the second electrical connecting
element is prevented from being pulled out.
[0005] In this way, an attachment part for an electrical plug-in
connection can be formed which has low material and production
costs. In particular, small batches of an attachment part according
to the invention can be realized at low costs, which only slightly
exceed the already low costs of a large scale production. In
particular, with the attachment part according to the invention,
fabrication of a costly and technically complex injection molding
tool is no longer necessary. In particular small batches can then
be produced profitably and within a short time. The ease of
displacement ensures that the first electrical connecting element,
for example an appliance receptacle mounted on one cable end, can
be connected through the frame member with a second electrical
connecting element, for example an appliance plug. In connected
state, the frame member surrounds the inserted electrical
connecting element and protects it from external and environmental
effects.
[0006] In a modification of the invention, the safety wire clip may
unblock in a first position the through opening for insertion of a
first electrical connecting element, and in a second position may
secure a first electrical connecting element connected with the
second electrical connecting element from being pulled out. This
enables simple insertion of the first electrical connecting element
into the second electrical connecting element, which then is easily
and reliably secured from being pulled out or becoming
detached.
[0007] In this context, according to an improvement of the
invention, the safety wire clip may be shaped so as to engage
behind a first electrical connecting element connected with the
second electrical connecting element. The first electrical
connecting element is hereby secured on the surface, which is
distal from the plug contacts, of a first electrical connecting
element implemented as an appliance receptacle, wherein the secure
attachment is independent of the employed cable or of the cable
connected to the first connecting element, in particular its
diameter, and can therefore be used with a variety of different
connecting elements.
[0008] According to another embodiment of the invention, the safety
wire clip may be rotatably supported on the attachment part by at
least two bearings. This arrangement securely and firmly guides the
safety wire clip.
[0009] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the
safety wire clip may have essentially the configuration of a
U-shaped clip. The first electrical connecting element can thereby
be easily and effectively attached and is also easy and inexpensive
to manufacture.
[0010] According to a variant of the invention, the bridge of the
clip may have a substantially U-shaped recess, wherein the leg of
the recess may be arranged at least in certain regions
substantially perpendicular to the bridge and the legs of the clip.
The safety wire clip can then grip around the attachment area of a
cable which increases the contact area, without completely
encircling or enclosing the cable.
[0011] According to another configuration of the invention, the two
substantially parallel legs of the U-shaped clip may be arranged in
the second position of the safety wire clip in substantial parallel
relationship to the connection direction of the electrical
connecting elements. This enables essentially torque-free force
transmission from the safety wire clip to the attachment part,
again supporting high strain.
[0012] Advantageously, to avoid unnecessary downtimes of
appliances, as well as to make the electrical appliance safer to
use, a sealing element may be arranged on or adjacent to the inside
surfaces of the frame member. The second electrical connecting
element, for example an appliance plug, can thereby be implemented
with a weather-proof protection, in particular according to IPX4.
The seal can be formed so as to seal both the contact phase between
an electrical appliance and the attachment part as well as a
remaining gap between the inside surfaces of the frame member and
the first electrical connecting element. The seal may also be
formed so as to seal in addition the fastening screws and the
provided screw holes. In this way, humidity or moisture is
prevented from entering the appliance or the contacts when the
electrical connecting elements are plugged together. Malfunctions
and risk to personnel can thereby be reliably eliminated.
[0013] Advantageously, the frame member can be implemented as a
closed ring, which reliably provides good all-around
protection.
[0014] The frame member, preferably the entire attachment part, of
conventional attachment parts can be implemented as a single piece.
The attachment part can then be easily and cost-effectively
manufactured. In addition, there are no additional joints requiring
complex seals. By implementing the entire attachment part,
including frame member and seal, as a single piece, the entire
attachment part can be particularly quickly and economically
produced, for example as a two-component injection molding
part.
[0015] According to an improvement of the invention, the attachment
part may include at least one fastener for securing the attachment
part on the second electrical connecting element. As a result, the
attachment part can remain connected with the second electrical
connector, for example an appliance plug, even when the first
electrical connector, for example the appliance receptacle mounted
on a cable, is pulled away.
[0016] In this context, a projection or a flange, preferably with
at least one opening, may be formed as fastener, by which the
attachment part can be secured, in particularly screwed, on the
second electrical connecting element. This enables a particularly
secure and robust installation of the attachment part.
[0017] According to an advantageous variant, the attachment part
may be formed to as to extend over fastening means of the second
electrical connecting element, for example a catch or detent or a
collar. This may provide a particularly effective seal, so that
also a potential gap between the second electrical connecting
element and a housing for disposition of this second electrical
connecting element can be sealed.
[0018] In an especially preferred manner, the electrical connecting
element may advantageously be selected from the following list of
electrical plug-in systems: appliance plugs or appliance
receptacles, in particular according to IEC 60320, particularly
preferred according to IEC 60320-1, plugs and receptacles for cold
appliances, plugs and receptacles for warm appliances, shockproof
plugs and shockproof receptacles with or without ground wire, plugs
and receptacles for hot appliances according to the 60320 standard,
power extension cord plugs and receptacles according to IEC
60320-2.2. These electrical plug-in systems are standardized and
alone cannot satisfy the object of the invention, i.e., preventing
the receptacles from being pulled out and protecting against the
environment. By installing a plug-in connection safety assembly
according to the invention, these conventional plug-in safety
assemblies can also be secured against unintentionally being pulled
out, while still complying with the applicable standards.
[0019] The invention will now be described in more detail with
reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the appended
drawings. It is shown in:
[0020] FIG. 1 in an exploded view, a system with a plug-in
connection safety assembly and an attachment part for a straight
appliance receptacle,
[0021] FIG. 2 a system of this type with attached electrical
connecting elements,
[0022] FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view of the system of this type
with a plug-in connection safety assembly that can be pulled off
without using a tool,
[0023] FIG. 4 a cross-sectional view of the system of this type
with a plug-in connection safety assembly that can be pulled off
only by using a tool,
[0024] FIG. 5 a system of this type having in addition a cover,
with attached electrical connecting elements,
[0025] FIG. 6 a side view of the system of FIG. 5,
[0026] FIG. 7 a cross-sectional view of the system of FIGS. 5 and
6,
[0027] FIG. 8 an exploded view of a system with a plug-in
connection safety assembly and an attachment part for an angled
appliance receptacle,
[0028] FIG. 9 a system of this type with attached electrical
connecting elements,
[0029] FIG. 10 an attachment part according to the invention with
an electrical connector in axonometric view;
[0030] FIG. 11 an attachment part according to FIG. 10 with
attached electrical connector; and
[0031] FIG. 12 an arrangement according to FIG. 10 in an exploded
axonometric view.
[0032] The FIGURES show a plug-in connection safety assembly
designated with reference sign 1. The safety assembly includes a
holding member 2 as well as a first arm 4 and a second arm 10.
Alternatively, only a single arm or more than two arms may be
provided. The holding member 2 is approximately ring-shaped and has
a support surface 7. The plug-in connection safety assembly can be
placed over a first electrical connecting element, here implemented
as an appliance receptacle 2 formed on a cable 9. When the plug-in
connection safety assembly is completely pushed over the cable 9,
the support surface 7 comes into contact with a surface 14 of the
appliance receptacle 3 facing away from the plug contacts. The
support surface 7 is here shaped like the appliance receptacle 3,
in particular the surface 14. The holding member 2 can be formed as
a closed ring or, as depicted in FIG. 1, as a lateral slitted ring.
The lateral slit has the advantage that the holding member 1 can
also be pushed later onto a cable 9, without having to remove a
plug or a receptacle 3 on one or the other end of the cable 9. The
holding member 2 is preferably anchored firmly on the cable 9 or in
the grooves or openings of the appliance receptacle 3, so that the
plug-in connection safety feature 1 remains secured to the
appliance receptacle 3 even when the plug-in connection is pulled
off. For this purpose, special anchoring bumps 32 are provided on
the inside surface of the opening 8, which can engage in the spaces
in the grooves or openings 33 of the appliance receptacle 3, i.e.,
in the grooves or openings of the strain relief bushing 33.
Alternatively, the holding member 2 may also be slightly larger
than the outside contour of cable 9 or of the grooves or openings
of the appliance receptacle 3, so that the plug-in connection
safety assembly 1 can still be moved on the appliance receptacle 3
as a result of the slight play.
[0033] A holding member in form of an outwardly projecting detent 5
or 11 is formed on the end of each of the arms 4 and 10. When the
detents 5 and 11 of the arms 4 and 10 engage with a component that
is connected with another electrical connecting element, the
surface 14 of the appliance receptacle 3 facing away from the plug
contacts can be supported on the support surface 7. When the
detents 5 or 11 of the arms 4 and 10 are not anchored, the entire
plug-in connection safety assembly 1 can be pulled off towards the
rear, i.e., in a direction away from the electrical contacts. The
plug-in connection safety assembly 1 can be freely displaced in
that direction.
[0034] An engagement profile 12 is provided approximately in the
center of each of the arms 4 and 10. In the depicted example, this
profile is composed of a gripping bump 12. Alternatively, other
shapes like, for example, a gripping indentation, a corrugation or
any other shape providing a good grip is feasible. The plug-in
connection safety assembly 1 can be easily gripped on these
gripping bumps 12 so that the arms 4 and 10 can be pushed inward.
This also decreases the distance of the detents 5 and 11 at the
ends of the arms 4 and 10, so that these can be moved out of a
gripping member 23.
[0035] FIG. 1 also shows an attachment part 13 which includes
essentially a frame member 16 and a seal 30. The frame member 16
has a fastener in the form of a flange 19 having openings for
receiving screws 20. The attachment part can be attached with the
screws 20 on a second electrical connecting element 6. In the
depicted exemplary embodiment, the second electrical connecting
element is an appliance plug 6.
[0036] As an alternative to a securement with screws 20, other
suitable fasteners may be contemplated, for example a snap-in or
clamping attachment. The attachment part 13 may also be arranged
directly on the appliance plug 6 or on the appliance housing
associated with the appliance plug 6.
[0037] Interior surfaces 17 which are shaped similar to the
exterior shape of the first electrical connecting elements, in this
case the appliance receptacle 3, are formed on the frame member 16.
The appliance receptacle 3 can be freely displaced through the
through opening 18 formed by the interior surfaces 17. Therefore,
no clamping or other fixed connection is provided between the first
electrical connecting element itself and the frame member 16.
[0038] In addition, two opposing engagement members in the form of
integrally formed webs 23 are provided on the frame member 16.
Engagement members other than the webs 23 may be provided, for
example a catch, a projection, an indentation, a groove, a notch,
an undercut or any other form capable of locking a holding means,
such as a catch. The frame member 16 in the exemplary embodiment is
produced as a single component, for example by injection
molding.
[0039] The attachment part 13 optionally includes a seal 30. This
sealing element 30 is constructed so as to perform two sealing
functions simultaneously. On one hand, it has a bead 27 sealing the
joint between the frame member 16 and the region of the housing
section of the appliance that is directly adjacent the second
electrical connecting element. In the depicted example, this joint
is located between the appliance plug 6 and the housing wall 26. On
the other hand, the sealing element has a sealing lip 28
surrounding the through opening 29 which seals the gap provided for
movement between the outside contour of the first electrical
connecting element, in the depicted example the appliance
receptacle 3, and the frame member 16. This arrangement completely
seals the electrical plug-in connection, so that a weather-tight
seal according to IPX4 can be achieved even with conventional
plug-in connections corresponding to IEC 60320-1. As shown in the
FIGURES, the seal 30 can be formed as a separate component.
Alternatively, the seal 30 can also be formed with the frame
element 16 as a unitary piece. To provide the aforedescribed
sealing functions, the seal should be made of a material having a
greater flexibility than the frame member 16. This can be achieved,
for example, with a two-component injection molded part. In this
way, a single piece attachment part 13 can be produced in a single
fabrication step which is, however, composed of two parts, namely
the seal 30 and frame member 16.
[0040] FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate an appliance receptacle 3 connected
with an appliance plug 6. The receptacle is held in place by the
plug-in connection safety assembly 1 slipped over the cable 9. The
detents 5 and 11 on the arms 4 and 10 snap in behind the webs
23.
[0041] In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the plug-in
connection safety assembly 1 and hence also the appliance
receptacle 3 can be pulled off the appliance plug 6 without using a
tool. To accomplish this, the arms 4 and 10 are pressed together at
their gripping bumps 12, decreasing the distance between the
detents 5 and 11. The detents 5 and 11 become hereby disengaged
from the webs 23. Because the plug-in connector safety device 1 is
thus no longer anchored on the attachment part 13, the appliance
receptacle 3 can be pulled off.
[0042] In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the plug-in
connection safety assembly 1 and hence also the appliance
receptacle 3 can be pulled off the appliance plug 6 only by using a
tool. In this case, a projection 30 is formed on the inside of at
least one arm, in the depicted example on the insides of the two
arms 4 and 10, which prevents the arms 4 and 10 from being pressed
together simply by using fingers. For example, a screwdriver,
pliers or a similar tool can be used to disengage the detents 5 and
11. This makes it more difficult to pull the plug-in connection
apart and provides increased protection against improper removal of
the connection.
[0043] FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate another embodiment with a cover in
form of a flap 24. Alternatively, other forms of a cover would also
be feasible, for example a clip-on cover, a sliding cover or the
like. The illustrated flap 24 is supported on the attachment part
13 by a hinge disposed on the upper edge of the attachment part 13,
allowing the flap to be moved back and forth between a first
position closing the through opening 18 and a second position
unblocking the through opening 18. Advantageously, the flap 29 can
be biased toward its first position, i.e., in the closing
direction. For example, a spring, in particular a coil spring
arranged on the pivot axis or the like, can be provided.
[0044] The depicted attachment part 13 is configured for use with
various electrical connecting elements. These may be, for example,
appliance plugs that can be attached with screws or with a
so-called snap-in connection. Integrated appliance plugs are also
feasible. In particular, the attachment part 13 and optionally also
the seal 30 are configured to cover and/or project over all
alternate embodiments of appliance plugs. In particular, the depth
and the dimensions of the attachment part 13 and the seal 30 are
matched to those of the appliance plugs. In the solution employing
a snap-in appliance plug, the seal 30 of the attachment part 13 can
in addition to the aforedescribed sealing functions advantageously
also seal the mostly slotted openings around the detents of the
snap-in appliance plug. Accordingly, a single seal 30 can
completely seal a conventional appliance plug.
[0045] Although the illustrated examples are directed to appliance
plugs and appliance receptacles complying with the standard IEC
60320-1 with or without grounded contact, the invention can also be
applied to other plug-in systems. The invention can therefore be
employed with any other, standardized or non-standardized, past or
future plug-in system. The attachment part 13 according to the
invention can thus be used to convert a standardized, unprotected
plug-in connection into a plug-in connection offering greater
protection, for example weather-tight protection according to
IPX4.
[0046] The depicted examples are intended to achieve weather-tight
protection according to the protection class IPX4. Alternatively
however, other classes of protection, for example IPX0, are
possible. It would also be feasible to completely eliminate the
illustrated seal 30 and to provide only the frame member 16. The
cover 27 can optionally also be entirely eliminated. In particular,
all sub-combinations of these and other described optional features
are possible, whereby one feature, several features or all features
may be incorporated. Additional embodiments according to the
invention may include only a subset of the described features,
wherein each combination of features, in particular also of
different described embodiments, can be employed.
[0047] The plug-in connection safety assembly 1 and an attachment
part 13 according to the invention can be used to construct a
system for securing and protecting an electrical plug-in
connection. The plug-in connection safety assembly 1 can cooperate
with the frame member 16 of the attachment part 13 so that the
first electrical connecting element, in the depicted exemplary
embodiment the appliance receptacle 3, is held in the second
electrical connecting element, in the depicted exemplary embodiment
the appliance plug 6. When the plug-in connection safety assembly 1
is pushed over the cable 9 and over the connected appliance
receptacle 3, it latches with the detents 5 or 11 arranged on the
arms 4 and 10 behind the webs 23 of the frame member 16. The
plug-in connection safety assembly 1 thereby grips around the
appliance receptacle 3, preventing the same from being pulled off.
Even when the cable 9 is pulled, the surface 14 of the appliance
receptacle 3 is supported on the support surface 7 of the plug-in
connection safety assembly 1. At the same time, the appliance
receptacle 1 is always surrounded by the inside faces 17 of the
frame member 16, covering the actual insertion opening of the
appliance plug 6. In addition, the sealing element 30 seals the
remaining gap between the inside faces 17 of the frame member 16
and the appliance receptacle 3. The combination of the plug-in
connection safety assembly 1 with the attachment part therefore
provides comprehensive protection of a standardized plug-in
connection.
[0048] Another exemplary embodiment is illustrated in the FIGS. 8
and 9. In this embodiment, unlike the aforedescribed embodiments,
the plug-in connection safety assembly 1' is especially designed
for angled electrical connecting elements, here for an angled
appliance receptacle 3'. Like the straight embodiment depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the angled appliance receptacle 3' attached to a
cable 9' is plugged into an identically shaped appliance plug 6.
The attachment part 13 can also remain unchanged in this
embodiment. Only the plug-in connection safety assembly 1' is
different from that of the straight embodiment. The plug-in
connection safety assembly 1' thus includes a support face 7' which
in the depicted embodiment does not have an opening. For attaching
the plug-in connection safety assembly 1' on the angled appliance
plug 3', a holding member 2' is provided on the plug-in connection
safety assembly 1', which is implemented separately from the
support surface 7'. Like in the embodiment for straight connection
systems, two arms 4' and 10' with detents 5' and 11' formed on
their ends are disposed following the support face 7'. A gripping
pattern 12' is formed approximately in the center of each of the
arms 4' and 10' and can have, like in straight embodiments,
different forms. In all other aspects, reference regarding the
exact design of the arms 4' and 10' is made to the discussion of
the arms 4 and 10 of the straight embodiment.
[0049] The holding member 2' is here shaped to match the angled
appliance receptacle 3' or, more precisely, its grooves or
openings. In the concrete example, the grooves or openings are
sequentially arranged and have a rectangular, in particularly
square cross-section. The holding member 2' therefore has a
likewise rectangular inside contour and is open on one side. It can
be then pushed in the direction of this opening onto the grooves or
openings of the angled appliance receptacle 3'. In the depicted
embodiment, this direction is identical to the direction in which
the arms 4' and 10 can be pushed into suitable engagement means, in
particular webs 23, of an attachment part 13. The plug-in
connection safety assembly 1' can thereby be attached on the angled
appliance receptacle 3' either before or after the angled appliance
receptacle 3' has been plugged in the appliance plug 6.
[0050] The holding member 2' is preferably firmly anchored in the
grooves or openings of the angled appliance receptacle 3', so that
the plug-in connection safety assembly 1' remains secured on the
angled appliance receptacle 3' even after the plug-in connection
has been pulled apart. Special anchoring bumps 32' are here again
provided on the interior faces of the holding member 2', which can
engage in the gaps of the grooves or openings 33' of the angled
appliance receptacle 3', i.e., in the grooves or openings of the
strain relief pushing 33'. Alternatively, the holding member 2' can
also be made slightly larger than the outside contour of the cable
9' or of the grooves or openings of the angled appliance receptacle
3', so the plug-in connection safety assembly 1' can move on the
angled appliance receptacle 3' as a result of the slight play.
[0051] The holding member 2' is connected with the support surface
7' and the attached arms 4' and 10' via a connecting web 31'. The
connecting web 31' has a length matching the angled appliance
receptacle 3' so that, on one hand, the detents 5' and 11' of the
arms 4' and 10' are supported on the webs 23 of the attachment part
13 and, on the other hand, the holding member 2' can be anchored in
the grooves or openings 33' of the angled appliance receptacle
3'.
[0052] FIGS. 10 to 12 show the currently best known embodiment of
an attachment part 13 for an electrical plug-in connection, with a
frame member 16 having inside surfaces 17 which are essentially
formed to match the outer contour of a first electrical connecting
element 3, wherein the frame member can be secured on a second
electrical connecting element 6 and forms with its inside surfaces
17 a through opening 18 in the connection directions of the
electrical connecting elements 3, 6, and wherein the first
electrical connecting element 3 can be guided to be freely movable,
wherein a safety wire clip in 90 is movably connected with the
frame member 16, and wherein the safety wire clip 90 is formed so
as to be able to secure a first electrical connecting element 3,
which is connected with the second electrical connecting element 6,
from being pulled out.
[0053] In this way, an attachment part 13 for an electrical plug-in
connection can be formed, which has low material and production
costs. In particular, the attachment part 13 according to the
invention enables small production batches, which can be
manufactured at a cost only slightly above the already very low
production cost for a large volume production. In particular, an
attachment part 13 according to the invention does not necessitate
the fabrication of an expensive and technically complex injection
molding tool. Small batches can then be produced profitably and
quickly. Due to the ease of movement, the first electrical
connecting element 3, for example an appliance receptacle 2 mounted
on one cable end, can be connected through the frame member 16 with
a second electrical connecting element 6, for example an appliance
plug 6, without jamming. When connected, the frame member 16
surrounds the plugged-in electrical connecting element 3 and
protects it from external and environmental effects.
[0054] All aforedescribed embodiments of a first and/or second
electrical connecting element 3, 6, in particular implemented as an
appliance receptacle 2 or as an appliance plug 6, can also be
provided with the described attachment part 13 according to the
invention for an electrical plug-in connection. The safety wire
clip 90 can include any type of wire, in particular metal wire,
preferably steel wire or copper wire, which are able to withstand
the expected load when an unauthorized attempt is made to
disconnect the first electrical connecting element 3 from the
second electrical connecting element 6. In addition, the safety
wire clip 90 can be implemented to split under an applied load, for
example when the cable 9 is pulled, which is lower than a load that
could damage the second electrical connecting element 6 or the
housing wall 26, or which would be necessary to tear or pull be
connected device from its mount. In this case, the safety wire clip
90 may have at least one rated break point. This can prevent damage
if, for example, an electric device is pulled from a mount by using
the cable 9 or pulled from the table or another raised position,
potentially damaging the device.
[0055] The safety wire clip 90 is shaped so as to engage behind a
first electrical connecting element 3 that is connected with the
second electrical connecting element 6. In particular, the safety
wire clip 90 engages on the face 14 of the first electrical
connecting element 3. Differently shaped safety wire clips 90 can
be provided depending on the actual embodiment of the first
electrical connecting element 3. To enable simple insertion of the
first electrical connecting element 3 into the second electrical
connecting element 6 and to simultaneously provide adequate safety,
the safety wire clip 90 preferably unblocks in a first position the
through opening 18 for insertion of a first electrical connecting
element 3, and in a second position secures a first electrical
connecting element 3 connected with the second electrical
connecting element 6 to prevent it from being pulled out, wherein
FIG. 10 shows the safety wire clip in the first position and FIG.
11 shows the safety wire clip 90 in the second position. The safety
wire clip 90 is preferably rotatably supported in at least two
supports 91 disposed on the attachment part 13. Preferably,
friction in the two supports is so high that although the safety
wire clip 90 can be rotated manually, it remains in a
predeterminable position, without additional holding means and only
through friction in the supports 91.
[0056] In a particular preferred embodiment of a safety wire clip
90 according to the invention, the safety wire clip 90 can have
essentially the shape of a U-shaped clip 92. In a particularly
preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10 to 12, the bridge 93 of
the clip has an essentially U-shaped recess 94, wherein at least in
certain regions the arms 95 of the recess 94 are substantially
perpendicular to the bridge 93 and to the legs 96 of the clip 92.
This provides a particularly close and engaging contact of the
safety wire clip 90 with the surface 14. With this shape of the
safety wire clip 90, the two essentially parallel legs 96 of the
U-shaped clip 92 are in the second position of the safety wire clip
90 oriented essentially parallel to the connection direction of the
electrical connecting elements 3, 6, which can increase the
load-bearing capacity of the attachment part because the force is
essentially applied without a torque; due to the parallel
arrangement relative to the first electrical connecting element 3,
the safety wire clip 90 is particularly elegantly integrated with
the overall concept.
[0057] In addition to the aforedescribed particularly preferred
embodiment, the clip 92 may also be implemented as a simple
U-shaped clip, which engages behind the first electrical connecting
element 3 implemented as an appliance receptacle 2, wherein the leg
96 of the clip 92 in this embodiment is in the second position of
the safety wire clip 90 not parallel to the connection direction of
the electrical connecting elements 3, 6.
[0058] As discussed above, combinations of all aforedescribed
embodiments as well as of portions of such embodiments can be
provided within the context of the claims.
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